Extensible table top



C. J. FBICKER.

EXTENSIBLE TABLE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 192i.

. 1,41 3, 1 1 1. Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

. INVE/VTUR Car] John FIICKQ) By W A ATTORNEY CARL JOHN FRICKER, 033 NEW YORK, N. Y.

nx rnnsrnizn TABLE Tor.

-s e' iecanon of Letters Patent. P g n- 1 2 Application filed May 16, 1921. Serial No. 470,145.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that 1, CARL JOHN Fmonnn, a cltizen of the United States, residing at 321 East 87th Street, New York city, in the 1 county of New York and State of New vide a detachable top for a table, whereby the capacity of the table may be increased: toprovide such a table top which is capable of being folded upon itself to occupy a small space when not in use: andto provide suit-' able supporting means and clamping devices whereby said table top may be readily attached to and removed from the table.

In carrying this invention into practice, I construct a table top made up or" a number of sections or leaves hinged together at their edges and provided with a transverse groove in their under surface adapted to receive a supporting member. The supporting membcr comprises a removable her having slidably mounted clamping devices adapted to engage the opposite edges of a table. WVhen not in use, the supporting member may be removed from the groove andthe Sections can then be folded one on the other into a compact unit. I

The invention in its preferred form is illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1, is a top plan'view of my improved extensible table top in its extended position and with parts broken away to clearly show the concealed hinges and supporting mem-v ber.

Fig. 2, is a bottom plan view of the table top showing the supporting member and clamping devices.

Fig. 3, is a substantially longitudinal sectional view taken on the lines 38 of Fig. 1, and showing the removable top applied to a table.

Fig. 4:, is a perspective view of the portion 7 of the supporting member having one of the clamping devices engaged against the edge of a table.

Fig. 5, is an enlarged detail sectional view of the abutting edges of two of the sections and showing the position of the concealed hinge.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the table top in its folded position.

Referring to Fig. 3, of the drawing, 10 denotes the standard of a table provided with the usual top 11. The table may be of any construction and may have either a round, oval or rectangular top of arbitrary thickness. In the drawing the edge-of the table top 11 is shown as being square, but obviously it may be of other configuration without affecting the clamping devices used to secure the portable top to the table.

The construction described above is that of the ordinary table upon which the extensible table top forming the invention is supported. The invention consists of a table top'12 which maybe constructed of wood or metal including a series of parallel sections orleaves 13; these leaves 13 may be out about their edges to form any geometrical surface when combined, but for illustrative purposes an oval top is shown, The edges of the leaves 13 are hinged together by means of concealed hinges 1 1 those shown in the drawing being a type-commercially referred to as invisible hinges. In Fig. 1, the table top is shown as having a plan surface when in its extended position; this is made possible by the use of such hinges as are indicated at '14. The under surface of the table top is provided with a transverse groove 15 which is a cut out portion extending from a point short of each edge at opposite sides of the top. In Fig. 2, it will be noted that when the leaves 13 are in. their extended position; or in other words when the hinges 1 1 have been opened to theirmaximum extent, the' grooves in the under surface will combine to forma continuous groove 15.

The purpose of the groove 15 is to receive a supporting bar 16 which is of sufiicient length to extend substantially the full length of the groove. This bar 16 is of a size which will completely fill the groove 15 so that when assembled the surface of the under side of the top will be smooth. An elongated slot 17 is provided in the bar 16 and about its upper edge is a countersunk marginal portion 18 surrounding the slot 17. Slidably mounted in the slot 17 are two, clamping devices 18. These clamps include an angular member withone of its edges held parallel to the supporting bar 16 by I an adjustment screw 21. The upper end of the screw 21'is provided with a flat head 22 adapted to rest in the countersunk portion 18 and depending from the head 22 is a threaded portion extending through the slot I 17 and opening 28 in the angle piece 20. A thumb screw 24 carried by the screw 21 may be tightened against the under side of the angle piece 20. The depending portion of the angle piece 20 is curved slightly in a' 1 direction away from the horizontal portion.

The curved surface is provided to enable the clamps to engage any thickness of table. When the clamps 18 are mounted in the slot 17 the curved portions of the angles will .face each other and may be moved within the slot toward and away from each other.

The engaging surface of the curved portions order to prevent a side slippage of the top upon the table surface, a piece of rubber or other suitable material is carried" by the under surface of the bar 16 and is adapted to contact with the surface of the supporting table.

In the operation of setting up the table.

top it will be assumed that the leaves are folded to a position shown in Fig. 6; and the supporting bar 20 unattached toany other part; it is first necessary to place the supporting .are then moved toward each other and against the opposite edges; of the table and the thumb screws 24: tightened. The table top 12 in its folded position is thenplaced upon the supporting bar 20 so that the portion of the groove 15 in the center section bar 20 across the shortest diameter of the table. The clamping devices 18 13 will. rest over the bar 20. The second and third sections 13 may then be'swung down over the surface of the table 11 and the supporting bar 20, to the position shown in ,Fig; 3. The table top 12 is then connected to the table itself.

To again fold the table top itissimply rigidly necessary to disengage the top 12 from the 7 bar 20. The hinges 14% are so arranged that the outside leaves may be raised at, right angles 'to the adjoining leaves, whereupon said adjoining leaves are then raised at right angles torthe central section. This will bring the under surfaces of the outside leaves together and into aoposition in which they will occupy a comparatively small amount of space and may be readily stored.

The screws 2st may then be released and the supporting bar 20 removed from :the table to be stored withv the folded top.

I claim: f r In a removable and extensible table top,

tio-ns having a transverse continuousgroove in their under surfaces, of a rigid support.- ing bar adapted to rest on a supporting surface and detachably receivedin said groove to hold the sections on aneven plane, said,

supporting bar being provided with a vertical guide slot, and clamping means adjustable longltudinally in said slot and comprising opposed downwardly projecting curved the combination with a series of hinged secsurfaces adapted to be first moved laterally 7 into engagement with the opposite edges-of said supporting. surface and'then adjusted vertically to simultaneously fix the lateral;

positions of the clamping means and bring the converging surfaces of the latter into closer relation with the said-opposite edges 1 of the supporting surface;

In testimon'y'whereof I have my.

signature.

CARL JOHN FRICKER. I? 

